Wall Street Journal Examines Efforts by Pittsburgh to Meet Goals of Federal Health People 2010 Effort

The Wall Street Journal on July 10 profiles a "broad experiment" led by the University of Pittsburgh aimed at "eras[ing] the disparities in health between the city's whites and blacks" as part of HHS's Healthy People 2010 initiative. Although Atlanta, Ga., and Seattle, Wash., have instituted similar programs, "no area has as broad a campaign involving as many people and groups" as Pittsburgh. The initiative is being spearheaded by Stephen Thomas, director of University of Pittsburgh's Center for Minority Health; the university has already raised $1 million to support the effort and is seeking an additional $4 million over the next few years. To broadcast their message of preventive health to minority populations, city officials have employed "traditional" public service announcements along with an "old-fashioned community-building, door-to-door outreach" program that uses 300 city ministers to "sprea[d] health messages" through the Faith-Based Health Initiative of Greater Pittsburgh. In addition, Thomas has established an e-mail network of 150 community organizers to "connect disparate constituencies" and has "turned to some key urban nodes of guidance and gossip: barber shops and hair salons." Thomas is attempting to educate barbers and beauticians about the seven "major" areas of health care disparities: diabetes, cancer, infant mortality, HIV/AIDS, cardiovascular disease, immunization and mental illness. He noted, "Some people tell their barbers things they would never tell their doctor." National organizations are also participating in the program: the American Diabetes Association, the American Heart Association, and the American Cancer Society -- which "usually compete with one another for funds" -- are working together with Thomas to "tap another form of 'street cred'" by "infiltrat[ing]" 10 communities in the city over the next three years with "lay health advisers." The volunteers will offer "informal, street level education" on diabetes, heart disease and cancer (Martinez, Wall Street Journal, 7/10).